Google Chrome OS: Game Changer or Vaporware?

Google Chrome OS (Google Android OS’s cousin) is part of Google’s plan to provide an operating system for ‘secondary’ devices — such as tablets and netbooks. With all the buzz about Android some folks think Chrome OS has faded into the backdrop. It’s not on any devices yet, despite Google’s insistence that we will see the first official public release in late 2010. Until then, all we can do is speculate about Chrome OS’s potential market impact. So, let’s spend some time speculating right now…

First, let’s look at Google’s effort to differentiate. Google has taken a bold (or brazen, depending on how you look at it) approach to the tablet and smartphone markets. Android Inc. was scooped up by Google in 2005, and after subsequent development, released as Google’s app-centric (iPhone competitor) mobile phone solution in October of 2008.

But Google Chrome is Google’s bite at making something a little different. The entire operating system is the browser, with the intention that the user maintains his life on the ‘Net. Chrome OS, like its Android cousin, is based on Linux. But the idea is a tablet or netbook OS completely dedicated to the task of browsing and web-content. Google plans that web-apps can take care of your work needs (Google Docs, for instance) and the idea is to be absorbed and cradled in the cloud. With a web-browser as the only real software running on the device, the hardware for such a mythical netbook can be relatively small, lightweight, cheap, and fast.

Is Two Better Than One?

There are a lot of questions surrounding Google’s decision to develop two operating systems like this — and with Android OS finally finding its way into tablet hardware, it’s hard to figure out where Google is headed with Chrome OS. Even though the netbook is the initial target, Google offered their own tablet mock up for Chrome OS. So how the public will respond?

If consumers embrace Chrome OS, we could see them carry new types of Google-driven devices into the workplace.

Partner Watch

So what are the channel implications of Chrome OS — if there are there any at all? It’s almost too early to tell. But here’s some speculation based on what we know:

• We expect Google to promote Chrome OS as an inherently security platform.
• Big names like nVidia and Qualcomm are on board.
• With the web-browser and web-apps at the heart, netbook solutions are likely to come before a tablet version.
• Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin thinks Android OS and Chrome OS may converge over time.
• Chrome OS is designed for an ‘instant-on’ and ‘instant-cloud’ connected environment.
• We may get more Chrome OS details during the Google I/O 2011 developer conference (May 20-11, San Francisco). Google’s channel partner team is expected to have a major presence at the I/O conference.

More Speculation

If my hunch is right, Android and Android tablets will be the key players in the marketplace because they’re App-centric, game-centric and lifestyle-centric. But Chrome OS netbooks will find a niche audience of people who want that keyboard, and want it bad. Even though OSes like Jolicloud have essentially already done what Google is trying to do (including their own branded netbook), the Google-backed logo and development team will lend street-cred to the device and adoption.

Expect busy executives and executives to want these devices. For VARs and MPSs who are looking to support these solutions, a less ‘mobile/Android-ized’ version of Linux could prove useful for applying security tools, software and other compliance necessities.

Don’t expect much from Chrome OS right now. Until it hits a netbook near you, it still feels like vaporware. You should, however, expect that if Google Chrome OS takes off, your life in the cloud — and all of Google’s services — will take off exponentially. And if that’s the case, I believe Android and Chrome won’t merge, but actually live side-by-side, as their use-cases would become different.

Lastly, Google would be wise to focus their Chrome OS efforts on the netbook (or 10-inch notebook) arena. It’s clear that consumers want Android and Android-apps on their tablets, at least, for now.

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